The Masai Mara is one of the best known wildlife areas in Africa. Lying between the Loita hills to the east, the Ololoolo escarpment to the west and The Serengeti in Tanzania to the south , it's an area of iconic East African scenery; wide open plains interlaced with fertile rivers, framed under massive skies.

Most people who've heard of it know two things about the Masai Mara; firstly that it's the scene of the wildebeest migration and a super abundancy of wild animals in general, secondly that it's bristling with tourists. The first is certainly true, the second isn't always (although if this is a concern the Mara Conservation Area which surrounds the reserve is a great alternative away from the majority of the crowds).

When you come to the Masai Mara, the reality is you're going to see other traffic - and in some places, lots of it. The question is does it matter, and how much can it be avoided?

In the Masai Mara, the virtual certainty of seeing the majority of the major mammal species (not to mention the birds) of Africa and tonnes of wildlife action (including The Wildebeest Crossings at the right times of year (August-October)) will for many people obscure concerns about seeing others.  That is, the viewing is so damn good that it's worth doing in spite of the crowds.

On avoidance, the non-package camps, places like Rekero Tented Camp, and lodges make big efforts to keep their people away from the crowds and their guides are sensitive to this. Much of time they succeed: the Mara is a huge place, the masses generally confine themselves to the hotspots.